We, the undersigned organizations, write to you to convey our appreciation of
your compromise with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), on the final language of the
Family Reunification Act (H.R. 1452). We commend your acknowledgement that
certain long-term legal permanent residents who have built their family,
community and professional lives in America, but who have previously committed a
non-violent offense, deserve a second chance. Your compromise supports the
principle that we are a fair nation.

As you know, H.R. 1452 allows certain legal permanent residents who are
deportable as a matter of law, to apply for a limited form of relief known as
"cancellation of removal" before an Immigration Judge. The compromise
language carefully limits eligibility to legal permanent residents who are
subject to automatic deportation despite circumstances that seem to argue for
relief. The special category of hardship cases covered by this bill
include: 1) permanent residents who were brought legally to the U.S. when still
young children and now face deportation to countries they no longer even
remember, let alone speak the language; 2) permanent residents who committed
crimes well before the 1996 enactment of IIRIRA that the Act reclassified as
"aggravated felonies"; and 3) aliens who have committed relatively minor
crimes.

Importantly, the compromise language of H.R. 1452 maintains the distinction
between "eligibility" and "relief," and requires every applicant for
cancellation to present their facts to an Immigration Judge, and prove that they
deserve relief as a matter of discretion. Every applicant would be
required to document and testify to their rehabilitation, hardship to American
family members if deported, and close family, business, and property ties to the
United States. Finally, the compromise language of H.R. 1452 preserves the
Attorney General's authority to overrule any decision and, moreover, detain
legal permanent residents who are dangerous or likely to
flee.

We look forward to the upcoming mark-up of H.R. 1452 and understand that
there may efforts to amend the carefully crafted language of your
proposal. As we have seen in the past, we hope your pre mark-up
discussions with Republicans on the committee will allow for bi-partisan support
for your compromise bill. We are deeply concerned that any further
restrictions would undermine the very heart of H.R. 1452.